Concrete Leveling Polyurethane Foam
Introduction to Concrete Leveling Polyurethane Foam
Various factors necessitate the use of concrete leveling foam.
Erosion, resulting from water washing out the soil underneath the slab, is a key contributor. This can occur when a property’s slope directs water towards your slab or when gutter runoff or sewer line breakages lead to wastewater seeping into the soil.
Substandard soil compaction prior to slab placement is another issue. The soil underneath the slab should be thoroughly compacted to shrink the space between soil particles and form a dense foundation. Should this step be omitted or improperly executed, the slab may start to sink.
Another concern is expansive soil, which swells upon water absorption and lifts the slab. As it dries, the slab can sink, leading to a cycle of lifting, sinking, and cracking.
Lastly, the roots of large trees near the slab can impact the slab. These roots can absorb water under the slab, causing the soil to shrink. The decay of these roots following the tree’s death can create voids beneath the concrete slab.
Concrete leveling foam, a two-component, high-strength polyurethane material, is pumped beneath sinking concrete slabs, sidewalks, driveways, or patios. It provides a strong foundation by filling the void and elevating the sunken concrete while expanding. The process is also known by various terms like polyjacking, concrete lifting, slab jacking, foam jacking, foam lifting, all achieving the same goal.
The Process
Leveling and Lifting: Utilizing the concrete slab itself to deliver polyurethane foam, our method raises the concrete, fills voids, and stabilizes soils. A small hole is drilled into the slab, into which a tapered delivery port is inserted. The injection gun, connected to the port, pumps the polyurethane material through the port and slab, with the foam expanding within seconds, compacting loose soil and lifting the concrete.
This highly accurate and simple process is executed via incremental injections. The lifting foam fully expands within a brief period, allowing for monitored elevation and prevention of over-raising the slab.
Applications of Concrete Leveling Foam
Void Filling: Polyurethane foam is not limited to addressing concrete settling. It can also fill voids under slabs resulting from excessive settling or washouts. It imposes 15-25 times less weight than traditional mudjacking or cementitious grout mix, easing the pressure on a failed subgrade.
Joint/Slab Stabilization: Slab stabilization is critical when slabs lack support and are susceptible to cracking under heavy loads. This specialized foam, designed for joint/slab stabilization, fills voids to provide support and eliminate movement. Its slow reaction time and minimal expansion strength allow for thorough coverage under the slab or along a joint.
Concrete Leveling Polyurethane Foam Injection vs. Mudjacking
Concrete leveling foam offers several advantages over mudjacking, a method developed approximately one hundred years ago. Mudjacking is typicall messier and requires substantial machinery to transport and pump the heavy slurry under the slab. Any spillage can result in a significant mess. Mudjacking slurry, a mixture of sand, cement, and other natural materials, weighs approximately 100 pounds per cubic foot, compared to concrete leveling foam’s weight of 2.5 to 4 pounds per cubic foot. Moreover, the much larger 2-inch holes required for mudjacking can crack the concrete slab and provide an avenue for roots to penetrate.
Unlike mudjacking slurry, concrete leveling polyurethane foam is hydrophobic, inert, and waterproof, ensuring its structural integrity remains uncompromised when in contact with water. Conversely, mudjacking slurry can wash away upon contact with water, leading to further slab sinking.
Finally, concrete leveling foam operates with rapid effectiveness and exhibits prolonged durability. Upon being injected beneath the slab, it solidifies within mere minutes. On the other hand, mudjacking demands an extended application duration and frequently yields a shorter effective lifespan, which, dependent upon environmental factors and particular conditions, may only persist between 2 to 5 years before the slab descends again. This stands in sharp contrast to the notably extended typical longevity offered by concrete leveling foam.
